Box support



July 2, 1929. s. N. BUCHANAN BOX SUPPORT Filed July 16, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l fllllllll July 2, 1929. s, N, BUCHANAN 1,719,318

BOX SUPPORT Filed July 16, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July Y2, 1929.

STEPHEN N. BUCHANAN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNO C0., 0F ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATI 'r OFFICE.

R T THE THOMAS BETTB 0N 0F NEW JERSEY.

BOX SUPPORT.

Application led July 16, y

This invention relates to box supports and hangers and a main object is to produce an improved boxsupport by which outlet boxes and the like are attached to hanger rods in electric construction work so as to secure the box to the wall or ceiling of a building.

A further object of the invention is to produce a box support including one operating means, as for example a screw, by which the support member is anchored in the box and anchored to a hanger rod by one and the same operation.

Another object is toproduce a box support including telescoping members, as for example a support member in the form of a sleeve, a strap, or other member together with a fixture stud therein, means being included in the novel construction by which the parts are held together in handling or transit so that the two members do not fall apart.

Further objects will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating various examples of the invention wherein is shown several forms of sleeve support members and a strap type support member.

Figure l is a side elevation of a box wall partly broken away showing the box anchored to the support and the box support itself being anchored to and suspended from a. hanger rod, the ends of the latter being nailed to the studs of a building, this view showing a lengthwise edge of the hanger rod on which the support and box are carried.

Figure 2 is a. cross section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, showing the parts in further detail.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the box and the support attached thereto Vwith the box suspended under the hanger rod.

Figure 4 is a View of the box support parts separated or removed one from the other to show their construction and how the device is put together.

Figures 5 to 8 inclusive show a modied form of the box support including a conic sleeve member which is similar in principle' to the above described box support.

Figure 5 isa side elevation of a hanger rod fastened to building studs with .the hanger and box suspended therefrom.

Figure 6 is a cross section on line 6 6 of sleeve,

1 927. Serial No. 206,157.

Figure 5, but for simplicity the ceilinglath andother building membersare eliminated. 55 Figure 7 1s a plan view showing the box suspended under the hanger rod.

Figure 8 is a 'view ofthe conic sleeve member and stud form of box support with itsv parts in separated relation.

Figures 9 and 10 show a box sup ort wherein the support member is not madl in sleeve form but com rises an overhangin st rap embracing the ianger rod and stu Figure 9 is a partial s'deelevation and sec- 65 tion, and Figure 10 is a plan view.

Referring further to the drawings for a more detailed description of examples of the invention, there is first shown a box support member made in sleeve form 10 which is 70 split ,longitudinally at 11 to permit contraction and expansion thereof. Box hole anchorage means is included on the sleeve and may simply comprise an anchorage groove 12 formed on anyconvenient portion of the 76 as at one end thereof. This box anchorage groove 12 forms an internal inclined plane or conic shoulder 13 adapted to be engaged by a similar surface on a stud as will be explained. The support sleeve me'm- 80 ber 10 is designed to have its anchora e groove 12 snapped into the central kiioc out opening H of a box B, and the sleeve will yield and contract for this purpose by pressing together the slit 11. 8

he support sleeve may if desired be made uniformly at both ends, i. e. the ends have like grooves 12 and 12. This makes for convenience in assembling the parts since the stud to be described may be snapped in the sleeve from either end. What is of further importance is that the double groove ended split sleeve construction prevents s eparation in handling or transit of the cooperating sleeve and stud parts once they are assembled as hereinafter described because the double ended groove construction 12-12 confines the stud 1n the sleeve.

The sleeve 10 is also provided with opposite hanger rod opemngs 14 extending 100 transversel to the axis of the sleeve and these openings are designed to receive the ordinary hanger rod HR used in work of this character. In this way the box support sleeve 10 'is slidable and is therefore ad- 105 justable laterally alongthe hanger rod HR.

The box support is placed on the rod before the latter is nailed to the studs, and the opening 14 receives the rod by which it cooperates with and locks a stud against rotation as will be explained.

A fixture support stud 15 is mounted for free longitudinal motion within the sleeve 10 and comprises a lower' screw threaded shank 17 and an upper cylindrical body which may be formed into separated upstanding or forked portions 18 by an opening or passage 19 similar' in size and purpose to the opening 14 in the sleeve. The passage 19 through or defining the body portions 18 of the stud 15 registers with the openings 14 in the sleeve 10 so that the hanger rod HR passes through both openings4 14 and 19. The stud is made with a conic or inclined wedging surface 20 adapted to slidably engage the inclined wedging surface 13 in the sleeve formed by the an-l chorage groove 12 being'pressed into the sleeve. By `forcing the stud 15 to slide downwardly throughthe sleeve 10, the two `wedging surfaces 13 and 2O engage thereby spreadin the sleeve 10 in the box hole ll to thus anc 1or the box on the lower end .of the support sleeve 10.

It is to be noted that the stud 15 is confined inside the sleeve 10 bythe groove 12 and 12' the sleeve being suiiciently long and the two grooves being spaced far enough apart to permit "full lengthwise movement of the stud inside the sleeve. The spring characteristi of the split sleeve admits of dilation to receive the stud thereinto when it is pressed into one end of the sleeve. Thereafter the grooves at the sleeve ends 'prevent the stud from dropping out of the sleeve.

A screw 22 is threaded through the stud 15 and is accessible from the lower end thereof. by which the screw is turned up a ainst the lower surface of the hanger rod R. The reaction of the screw against the hanger rod enforces relative longitudinal motion between the sleeve 10 and stud 15, the stud being drawn downwardly through the sleeve, thereby moving the conic stud surface 20 along the surface 13 of the sleeve which expands the latter and anchors a box to the support, and simultaneously the box B and its support are also anchored on the hanger rod by reason of the screw 22 being set up tightly against the rod which tightly sets the upper surface of the rod against the upper edges of the sleeve opening 14.

t is observed that the forked body portions 18 of the stud are disposed on each side or mounted astride the hanger rod lll-t, and thus the stud is fixed against turning when screw threaded connections are made with an electric light fixture device by screwing the latter onto the shank 17. ln .Other Words the hanger rod fixes the support stud 17 against rotation so that once the box and support are installed, there is experienced no diiiiculty in making screw threaded connection of other parts not shown with the threaded shank 17. The transverse openings 14 in the sleeve l() permit of ad justment of the sleeve on the rod so that the box is placed at any desired position, after which Vthe screw 22 is tightened up to anchor all parts in rigid position.

It is seen that the upstanding parallel stud portions 18 may preferably extend above thehanger rod so that the stud 15 in moving lengthwise in the sleeve 10 will not be disengaged from the rod. In this way the stud 15 remains locked against turning motion. Furthermore the stud body portion which extends upwardly through the sleeve aids in holding the threaded shank 17 of the stud in straight position so that the shank hangs vertically after the installation is completed.

Referring to Figures 5 to 8 for a description of the modified form of the box support, there is shown a similar construction except that the support sleeve 25 is generally conic shaped and is split lengthwise at 2G to permit expansion in the box B by which an anchorage groove 2T is anchored in the central box hole ll.v The sleeve 25 is made with opposite hanger rod holes, passages or openings 28 by which the b ox support is slidably received upon the hanger rod llR.

A eonic support stud 29 includes a threaded shank 23() on one end and a forked body 31 on the other end,4 the upstanding portion 31 being formed by the hanger rod passage 32 made transversely through the stud bodyV portions 31. 'lhe upstanding stud body portions 31 are conie shaped as indicated at $33 and thus conforms to the eonic shape ot' the sleeve. 'lhe conic stud and sleeve are litted togetherand by moving the stud toward the smaller end of the sleeve, the latter is expanded. It is to be observed that the entire adjacent surfaces of the stud and sleeve are in contact and so remain as lengthwise motion of the stud in the sleeve occurs, and thus the stud 29 is held straight and its axis remains coincident with that of the sleeve and no wobbling or side motion of the stud may occur in the sleeve.

An operating screw 34 is screw threaded up through the shank 30 and through the stud body 29 to engage the hanger rod HR. Before tightening up the screw 34, the box support is adjusted to the proper position on the hanger rod, whereupon the box B may then be placed over the lower sleeve end 27, and the screw 34 is tightened up against the rod to draw the stud 29 downwardly through the sleeve thereby expanding the latter to rigidly anchor the box on the sleeve and simultaneously set the box support in fixed position on the rod.

all parts together. One or both parts are provided with means for ,receivin the hanger rod so the box support may received thereon. n

An important feature is the cooperation between the lower ends of the sleeve and stud. The conic engaging surfaces are effective at or proximate t e box anchorage means 12 and 27 to expand the latter in a box hole. If desired, the conic engaging surfaces may be extended, i. e. the stud may be made long enough to reach upwardl by the hanger rod, but it is that portion of, the stud under the hanger rod which carries the screw and wedging means and therefore is of primary importance.

The upper end of the conic sleeve 25 may to advantage be spun or punched over or grooved as indicated at 28 after the stud 29 is placed within the sleeve so as to retain the parts together. The two sleeve ends 27 and 28 are similar in function to the former grooved sleeve ends k12 and 12 described. It is .important to note that the stud is mounted for free movement between the grooved ends of the sleeve in both forms of the invention so that the stud is retained thereinagainst loss. The tapered or wedging surface end of the stud is placed in the end of the sleeve, and by simply pressing the two parts longitudinally together, the sleeve opens to admit the stud, and then closes on it, whereon the stud is retained movably in the sleeve.

Figures 9 and 10 are now referred to as showing a similar box support of modified construction. A hanger member 40 is arched over the hanger rod HR with downwardl directed box hole anchorage arms 41 whic embrace and engage the enlarged conic head 43 of a threaded stud 44. The lower free l extremities of the arms 41 extend through and hook around the edges of the box hole knock-out. The overhan ing support member 40 is here shown ma e in the form of a strap arched to embrace the hanger rod and stud. This support strap 40 retains itself in place on theconic stud head 43 by the natural spring contraction of the arms 41. The two parts 40 and 43 possess relative free motion one on the other so that sufficient looseness exists to permit of easy insertion of the box support in a box hole whereupon a screw 45 is tightened up against the hanger rod to draw the stud downwardly and force the strap upwardly, the result of which is to spread apart the lowerfree ends of the strap arms 41 causing them to immovably anchor the device in the box hole.

All forms of the box support are simple to lnstall and comprises few parts and holds the box B in rigid position and at the same time affords a threaded fixture stud by which to suspend electric light fixtures and the like from the box. The two engaging relatively movable members include engaglng sur aces extending at an an 1e to the axis of the stud. This is observe throughout the several forms. Reaction of the screw bearing on and seating against the hanger rod slides the angular surfaces one on the other and renders effective the box hole anchorage means in all forms of the device. The o rating screw is reached from below and t e device is set in final position b v working inside of or below the box, the screw serving to enforce relative motion between the intertitting parts, whether sleeve or strap form, to effect anchorage to the hanger rod above and the box below, and both parts expansibly fit into the box hole.

What I claim is 1. A box support comprisin intertting members movably free one wit in the other and both of which are adapted to fit into a box hole and being provided with mea-ns for the reception of a hanger rod, the outer member including box hole edge engaging means and means rendering it expansible within a box hole, the inner member including a conical engaging surface to act on the engaging means to expand the outer member in a box hole, and operating means to enforce relative motion between the members by which expansion occurs to x the box support on a hanger rod and to anchor the box support in a box hole.

2. A box support comprising, interitting members adapted to fit in a box hole including means to hold them together for free relative motion, one member including a screw threaded stud, the other member having means rendering it expansible and including box hole anchorage means, an engagin surface formed on each member exten ing at an angle to the axis of the stud, said other member including means to receive a hanger rod through the box support, and operating means to bear against a hanger rod and enforce relative movement between the members whereby the angular engaging surfaces causes one of the members to expand in a box hole.

3. A box support comprising, a stud including a conic head and a threaded shank,- a hanger rod support member carried on the conic head and being provided with means on the upper end of the member to slidably engage a hanger rod, said member having means rendering it expansible, box hole anchorage means on the lower end of the member, engaging surfaces on each member versely to the longitudinal axis thereof for the reception of a hanger rod, the sleeve including a circumferential anchorage groove and being split lengthwise rendering it expansible in a box hole, the stud including an inclined engaging surface to act on the anl .chorage groove to expand and anchor the support in a box hole, and operating means to enforce relative motion between the parts by which expansion occurs and b which the support is fixed on a hanger ro 5. A box` support comprising, a sleeve split longitudinally and including box hole edge anchorage means, a stud mounted within the 'sleeve and free to move longitudinally therein and including a wedging surface whichl bears against and expands the anchorage means in a box hole, openings being provided through the sleeve and stud for the reception of a; hanger rod, and a screw threaded through the stud into the opening thereof and adapted to engage the hanger rod. i ,v

6. A box support comprising, a sleeve longitudinally split and including a circumferential box anchorage groove and an inclined wedging surface, a stud mounted in thev sleeve and including a similar inclined wedging surface to expand the sleeve, a hanger rod passage formed through the sleeve and stud, and a screw threaded through the stud to engage a hanger rod within the passage and enforce relative longitudinal movement between the sleeve,l and stud.

7. A box support comprising a split sleeve and cooperating 'stud carried therein, said stud and sleeve including cooperating surfaces by which the sleeve is expanded upon movement of the stud in the sleeve, anchorage means formed in the sleeve and rendered effective when the sleeve is expanded, said sleeve and stud including means by which the box support is mounted on a hanger rod `and the stud is preventedv from rotating in the sleeve, and operating means to move the stud in relation to the sleeve to actuate the cooperating surfaces.

8.. A box support comprising, a split sleeve including oppositely disposed openings made therein and box, anchorage means, a stud within the sleeve and including upstanding parallel portions defining a passage which registers with the opposite sleeve openings,

adapted to `receive a. hanger rod thereon which passes between the upstandng stud portions, wedging move the stud longitudinally and actuate the Vwedgingmeans to expand the sleeve and to engage the hanger rod. Y 9. box suport comprising, a split sleeve mcludmg hanger rod openings thru the wall means included 1n the support cooperating with the split sleeve, and a screw carried with the support to thereof and box hole anchorage means, a

stud mounted for free longitudinal movement in the sleeve, said sleeve and stud including means by which the sleeve is expanded to render effective the box anchorage means when the stud is moved longitudinally in the sleeve, means to retain the stud in the sleeve, and said box support also including operating means to enforce relative movement between the sleeve and stud.

10. A box support comprising, a split sleeve including hanger rod openings thru the wall thereof and box hole anchorage means, a stud mounted for free longitudinal movement in the sleeve, said sleeve and stud including means by which the sleeve is expanded to render effective the box anchorage means when the stud is moved longitudinally in the sleeve, means formed on the sleeve ends to retain the stud within said sleeve, and said box support also including operating means to enforce relative movement between the sleeve and stud.

l1. A box support comprising, a split sleeve including hanger rod openings thru the wall thereof and box hole anchorage means, a stud mounted for free longitudinal movement in the sleeve, said sleeve and stud including means by which the sleeve is expanded to render effective the box anchorage means when the stud is moved longitudinally in the sleeve, a groove formed in the sleeve proximate each end thereof to .retain the stud therein, and said box support lalso including operating means to enforce relative movement between the sleeve and stud.

l12. A box support comprising, a sleeve split lengthwise to permit expansion and including means to mount it on a hanger rod,

ya stud mounted for free lengthwise movement in the sleeve and includlng a wedging surface, a circumferential groove formed in the sleeve which expands in a box knock-out when the wedging surface aforesaid acts thereon, another groove formed in the sleevel spaced from the first named groove to retain the stud in the sleeve, and operating grooves, including means formed on the support to attach it to a hanger rod, a screw threaded thru the stud to bear against the hanger rod, and Wedging means to expand the sleeve when the screw is turned against the hanger rod.

14. A box support comprising, a split sleeve having a hanger rod opening formed therein, a circumferential groove formed at each end thereof; a stud mounted for' lengthwise movement in the sleeve between the grooves and including a conic surface to engage one groove to expand the sleeve, and a passage therethru to admit a hanger rod; and a screw carried in the stud reaching into the passage to bear against a hanger ro 15. A box support comprising a conic shaped split sleeve including box anchorage means, a conic shaped stud mounted therein, said support including a hanger rod receiving means by which the support is mounted on a hanger rod, and a screw mounted in the support adapted to bear against a hanger rod and slide the stud in the sleeve.

16. A lbox support comprising, a split sleeve shaped conically and including box hole anchorage means at the smaller end, a stud mounted therein and including wedging means to cooperate with the conic sleeve, a groove formed proximate the other end to retain the stud in the sleeve for free longitudinal movement therein, means included 011 the support by which a hanger rod is received thru the support, and a screw threaded thru the stud to bear against a hanger rod and force the stud to move in the sleeve to spread the box hole' anchorage means.

17. A box support comprising, a split sleeve shaped conically and including a cir- -cumferential box hole anchorage g1oove, a

stud mounted therein for free lengthwise movement and including a threaded shank on theelower end projecting from the sleeve and an upper conic end in the sleeve, a hanger rod passage formed thru the sleeve and thru the upper conic stud portion, and a screw threaded thru the stud to engage a hanger rod. n

In testimony whereof I aiiix mv signature.

STEPHEN N. BUCHANAN. 

